Thomas Cook continues to provide more support to Gambians

Modou
Jobe and Marianne Valassi, staff of Thomas Cook Northern Europe (TCNE) have
explained that the tour operator has been helping Gambian hospitals, schools,
Day care centers for children with disabilities and local communities for the
last 25 years.

The
company as one of the world’s largest tour operators has been in The Gambia
since 1967. Magnus Wikner who was the sport host in Sunwing in 1986 and he is
now the chief executive officer of TCNE.

During
a recent interview with our reporter, Mr. Jobe said the tour operator in
collaboration with Sodersjukhuset, Nacka Sjukhus, and Karolinska Sjukhuset
hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden have donated hospital equipment, medicines,
beds, ultrasound machines, operation tables and wheelchairs to several
hospitals including Bafrow, Bansang, Sukuta, Hart House and Tanka Tanka Psychiatric
hospital.

He
said Eivor Bjorkman, a former Swedish midwife annually visits The Gambia to
train beneficiaries on how to operate some of the equipment.

According
to him, TCNE has also been supporting various schools with furniture, school
materials, bicycles, computers, sports materials, mobile phones and kitchen
equipment among others. “Swedish fashion brand J. Lindeberg, private Swedish
and employees of TCNE have also been donating new and used cloths to Gambians
every year.”

Last year, Thomas Cook Northern Europe AB in
collaboration with several hospitals in Sweden donated hospital equipment to
the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for onward distribution to various
public hospitals in the country.

The
equipment includes scanning machines, operating beds, wheelchairs, fridges,
bicycles, walking sticks, and chairs among others. “Thomas Cook had also
donated washing machines to Banjul and Kanifing mortuaries as well as cloths to
various communities across the country.”

According
to him, this winter, the company opened a brand new hotel Sunprime Tamala Beach
and sending more customers to The Gambia from the three Nordic countries;
Sweden, Denmark and Finland. “The volume has increased this year by almost 50
percent and next winter we will be adding trips from Norway to The Gambia.”